Depending on the hotel, you may be charged for each local call, for access to a long-distance operator, for any credit-card calls, collect calls, local or long-distance information requests, toll-free 800 numbers and busy signals.
People Also Ask
Don't book through a travel siteOnce you find the lowest available price at the hotel you want to visit, call the hotel's reservation desk. Many hotels will meet or beat the best internet rate when you book with them. They'd much rather skip the commission to the travel site and book your stay directly.
But direct-dial long-distance is charged an operator-assistance fee of $2.12, plus $1 to $1.50 a minute, plus the AT&T daytime rate. So a two-minute long-distance call that would be, say, 50 cents from home would cost at least $4.62 at a Westin.
No, unfortunately it is not possible for someone to sleep over in your hotel room without paying. Hotels have strict policies about who can stay in their rooms and require payment for all guests.
Calling to book a hotel ensures you know exactly what you're paying for. It also means access to better prices than you're likely seeing online. While it might not be the most obvious route to booking your stay in such a digital age, it's one that promises to be worth your while.
It's important to note that while hotels can track the websites you visit, they do not have access to the specific content or personal information you transmit over the network.
If you're debating when to book your hotelUnless you've got your eyes on lavish lodging that otherwise has a fickle cancellation policy, you don't save a whole lot by holding out in hopes of a better deal. On average, properties are about 13% cheaper when booked 15 days out versus four months out.
If you have a loyalty status with the chain then yes, it's probably cheaper to book directly. Also, sometimes hotel offer discounts to incentivize people to reserve with them in order to avoid paying fees to a 3rd party platform like Booking.com. But the reverse can also happen. So just check both and compare.